Essex schools are falling short in the quality of education they offer.
A damning report from Ofsted has criticised Essex in comparison to counties such as Kent, Hertfordshire, West Sussex and Nottinghamshire, saying the county "could do better".
The document, presented to county councillors yesterday, is based on Ofsted reports over the past decade, with particular emphasis on the past three years.
Its conclusions stress shortfalls in the quality of education in infant, junior, and some secondary schools.
Recent inspections highlight the need for improvements in teaching, curriculum and pupils' achievements in primary schools.
Secondary schools, "require much improvement in standards, teaching, attitudes and attendance."
But across the board there were some areas of better performance.
Dunmow councillor, Susan Flack told an education policy development group: "We still seem to be doing worse than our neighbours in a lot of ways."
Cllr Iris Pummell, county council's cabinet member for education, said the Ofsted report did not compare like with like."We are better than the national average," she said. "Our statistical neighbours haven't got the number of schools we have.
Jerry Glazier, Essex spokesman for the National Union of Teachers, said: "The NUT challenges the Ofsted methodology.
Published Thursday July 8, 2004
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